Parliament, after a floor debate on Wednesday, has rejected a motion calling to expedite an amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act (2007). The amendment, proposed by Member of Parliament (MP) for South Galolhu Meekail Ahmed Nasym [MDP], seeks to ban Israeli passport holders from entering into the Maldives.
While 63 MPs belonging to the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), which holds a supermajority in Parliament, voted against the resolution, 15 voted in favour, and one abstained.
The motion, moved by MP for North Galolhu Mohamed Ibrahim [MDP], called for an examination of why the amendment remains pending with the Parliament’s Security Services Committee (241 Committee) and for identifying steps to expedite deliberations on, and approval of, the bill as soon as possible.
Nasym’s amendment would make it illegal for any person who has been issued an Israeli passport to enter the Maldives — whether travelling on the Israeli passport or another travel document issued to them by a different nation.
While the bill was referred to the 241 Committee on 10 June this year, senior state officials, including Attorney General Ahmed Usham, have hinted at challenges to the real-world implementation of the amendment as proposed in the bill.